Cowbird egg in GCFC nest???

15 years ago

We've been very cautious about checking the flycatcher's nest as some of you know.... they're easily spooked. It has been really hard to see what's what with the unique nesting style they have!

As of Saturday - there were at least 3 eggs in there....(never were too sure if there were 4 it was just so hard to see....) Checked today and the view was a lot clearer so I was able to see 4 eggs. At first I was thrilled but as I looked again I realized one looks different to the others... while it is similar at first glance, it's slightly smaller, a different shade (though a shade that could also be a GCFC egg - Sialis site shows a nest with 4 GCFC eggs of one color and one odd like this...) BUT what makes us wonder if it is a cowbird egg is the speckles are smaller, more like dots than what I call 'smudged dots!'

The GCFC egg is the one with the brown smudge type dots...(left) What do you think about the other one? Would you agree probably a cowbird or just an odd GCFC egg? We know how it goes with cowbird babies, so.... we're concerned. Opinions would be appreciated!

Thanks.

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Comments (8)

bridget_bb
Original Author
15 years ago
Oops... just looked at the Sialis site again and the pic I referred to above shows 5 GCFC eggs and a cowbird in the middle... darn it....
mullipuff
15 years ago
That smaller egg is definitely a Cowbird egg. I got in a HEAP of trouble a few weeks back when I was trying to get some advice on this subject (see the reg. birding forum under "Cowbird Egg in Finch Nest - probably on about pg. 3 by now, for the fracas...), so tread very carefully. I - how shall I say - "took care of" the egg in question. Only you can choose what to do with your interloper egg, but be ready to get flamed by most of the GW birding world for your "illegal, unethical, criminal, (et al)" behavior if you mention it here.
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A whole year later but I just wanted to add something that may be interesting. Thanks to susanzone5 for that great article, by the way. So glad we all learn from each other. I have a Brown-headed Cowbird couple and one very aggressive Robin (yes, Robin) coming to one of my tube feeders, which I am going to change today. I'm thinking these 2 birds are always together at this feeder. This particular feeder has a seed mix and the Cowbirds seem to be eating the millet first and then the BOSS. Before I can change this one feeder to safflower-only, I am going out right now and replace it with a tube without its saucer, and another saucerless tube, in an attempt to move the Cowbirds to any of my other feeders in another location. I really just wanted you to know that I think the Cowbird and Robin are travelling together because they always arrive at this feeder together. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
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erictammy
15 years ago
I've never had a cowbird egg in with my other eggs. So is it the larger one or the smaller one?
lisa11310
15 years ago
UUUMMMM I wouldn't worry about being flamed. We don't know who you are, where you live and we have no clue as to what you have decided to do. The flamers are just words on a page and do not warrent another thought. Angry little people screaming injustice are just not worth the time or effort.
bridget_bb
Original Author
15 years ago
Tammy,
It is the smaller. It is about the size of a BB egg?

Mullipuff,
Thanks for the advice/heads up. We just wanted some others to look and agree with us that it is a COWBIRDS egg. The wife has her FLAME RETARDENT SUIT on, and she looks FUNNY LOL!!!!!!!!!
mullipuff
15 years ago
LOL - the flame retardant suit.

I was thinking over dinner - if the Cowbird egg is that much smaller, wouldn't a chick be also? And if that were the case, would it pose the same sort of threat that it would in the nest of a much smaller bird? This is more the scientist in me wondering, not the Devil's Advocate.

Lisa - Thanks for the kind words. You were supportive of me during that snafu and it was much appreciated. I also get and read Birdscope from the Cornell Lab of Orn. and found the Cowbird article very interesting.
lisa11310
15 years ago
You may want to do a little more research. I don't know the answer, but if I remember right the Cowbird also has a cherry red mouth inside attracting more feedings????? One would like to think that they can all survive. uummm but read you Birdscope again! ;)
luvabird ,,,
15 years ago
Cowbirds lay quite a LOT of eggs in other nests. their numbers are increasing. It's quite distressing, really.

I hear the eggs are quite slippery and are difficult to hold without dropping them.

Cowbird egg in GCFC nest???

Comments (8)

bridget_bb
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mullipuff

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Cowbird egg in GCFC nest???

Comments (8)

bridget_bbOriginal Author

mullipuff

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bridget_bb
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